Published on December 9, 2023
Ahmedabad: On Thursday night, over 3,000 revellers turned a section of New York’s famed Times Square into a garba venue. Women decked in chaniya cholis and men in kediyus swayed to the beats of traditional Gujarati garba songs and Bollywood numbers on the theme, such as ‘Nagada Sang Dhol Baaje.’ The occasion was the dance form’s inscription by Unesco as ‘intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of humanity’ on Wednesday.
The event was organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) and participants included Dr Varun Jeph, acting consul general of India in New York and senior of the Indian and Gujarati communities. Talking to TOI, Dr Jeph said that it is a matter of great honour. The dance form has gained popularity in the US over the past few years through the Gujarati diaspora, and the Unesco recognition would further cement its position, he said, lauding the efforts of all involved in getting it the recognition.
Ankur Vaidya, chairman of FIA, was ecstatic looking at the turnout. “We invited the entire Indian diaspora for the celebration and saw great participation from places such as New York and New Jersey. According to rough estimates, more than 3,000 celebrated the recognition with songs and garba. This is not all. Times Square is considered the crossroads of the world, and we saw many from other ethnicities also joining in,” he said.
Nisha Parikh, a choreographer closely associated with the event along with several of her students, said performing garba in full traditional attire amid the bright neon lights and huge billboards of Times Square was an ethereal and electrifying experience.
“While I teach different dance forms, garba is highly popular among various ethnicities because of its steps and rhythm,” she said.
A member of Parikh’s dance troupe, Christina K, who hails from Moldova and had settled in New York said, “I also wore traditional Gujarati attire and performed garba. It is a beautiful dance form that transcends language and cultural boundaries. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the Navratri festivities.”
Parth Shastri Archive 